which yield the Ipecacuanha of Commerce. 19 



It is a perennial plant, growing in shady moist situations in the 

 Brazils, and other parts of South America, and especially, accord- 

 ing to Humboldt, near the Badillas in Columbia. It flowers from 

 December to March, and ripens its berries in May. The root is 

 fibrous, three or four inches long, and two or three lines thick, mark- 

 ed with prominent and closely set rings. The stem procumbent at 

 the base, rising to the height of from five to twelve inches, simple, 

 leafy towards the apex, where it is slightly pubescent. The leaves 

 are opposite, six or eight in number, ovato-acuminate, entire, downy, 

 two or three inches long, supported on very short petioles, fur- 

 nished at the base with sessile stipules. The flowers are small, 

 white, funnel-shaped, and disposed in a smaU terminal head, sur- 

 rounded at the base with a four-leaved pubescent involucrum. The 

 fruit, a small black ovoid berry, one-celled, and containing two 

 oval seeds. 



2. Psychotria emeiica, Sprengel, Syst. Vegetab. G. 792. Sp. 7- 

 Class 5. Ord. 1. Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae. 



Generic Characters. — Calyx pitcher-shaped ; five-toothed, per- 

 sistent, entire. Corolla funnel-shaped. Throat bearded. Limb 

 five-cleft. Stamina protruding. Stigma two-cleft. Drupe two 

 seeded, furrowed. 



Specific Characters. — Stalk simple, somewhat shrubby, erect, 

 hairy. Leaves oblong, lanceolate, acuminated, ciliated, pubescent 

 underneath. Peduncles axillary, subracemose. 



This plant, which resembles the former, grows in Columbia, 

 Peru, and probably other parts of South America. The root is 

 fibrous, about the thickness of the little finger. The stalk twelve 

 to eighteen inches high, cylindrical, and finely pubescent. The 

 leaves are opposite, lanceolate, acute, narrowing at the base, smooth 

 on their upper surface, pubescent underneath, supported on a short 

 petid.e, and having two stipules. The flowers are in clusters, ax- 

 illary, small and white. Fruit, an ovoid bluish berry. 



3. Richardsonia Brasiliensis, Gomez, Mem. sol. el Ipec. 1801, 

 p. 31. — Rich, scabra, St. Hilaire, PI. Brazil. 2 liv. Richardia 

 Brasiliensis. 



Class 6. Ord. 1. Nat. Ord. Rubiacece Juss. 



Generic Characters. — Calyx superior, from six to eight cleft, 

 divided. CoroUa funnel-shaped. Stamina protruding. Style sub- 

 three cleft. Capsule with thi'ee elastic seed vessels, each holding 

 one seed. Calyx crowned. 



Specific Characters. — Stalk procumbent, flowers capitate, in- 

 volucre four cleft. 



M. Aug. de St. Hilaire mentions also another species of i??cAarcf- 

 sonia, the R. rosea, which, as well as the R. Brasil, furnishes the 

 white or undulated ipecacuanha of Piso. The latter, he says, is 

 the best. 



Physical properties and tJarie/ec*.— Ipecacuanha is brought to 

 this country in bales. Many kinds are described ; some of which 

 are called true, others /«/.?<? or bastard ipecacuanhas. 



